Chapter 230: Tang Chen Returns to the Haotian Sect (Part 2)
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"Hao'er, how did you teach your son?" From the video recordings of the Continental Elite Tournament, Tang Chen could tell that Tang San and Tang Hao were not close. If they were, Tang San would have only hesitated when Bibi Dong invited him to join the Spirit Hall, rather than saying something like, "Please conquer me."
Although the matter of his great-grandson becoming the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall...
It was indeed a very delicate issue for him.
"I hardly raised him at all. In fact, after he hid the Haotian Hammer from me, I severed ties with him. After all, the Blue Silver Grass spirit cannot compare to the Haotian Hammer, so I originally intended for him to live a peaceful life..." Tang Hao admitted, blushing slightly as he recounted his six years of despondency in the Holy Soul Village.
He did not mention losing Ah Yin, especially since his brother still longed for her. If anyone found out that he had carelessly allowed Ah Yin's reborn sapling to be stolen, his brother, the elders, and his grandfather would despise him even more.
Despite his despair, a shred of pride remained.
Fortunately, everyone present, including Tang Chen, was unaware that a hundred-thousand-year plant spirit beast could reincarnate through its seed after sacrificing itself. Yuehua surely wouldn't tell his brother.
"You!" Tang Chen didn't know what to say, but the incident had already happened, and dwelling on it would only cause division within the family.
"Uncle, now that you have returned, why not take charge of the Haotian Sect again?" The second elder suggested excitedly, "With you at the helm, the Haotian Sect will surely regain its former glory!"
"Yes, Uncle!" The other elders echoed.
Tang Xiao also intended to relinquish his position as sect leader.
Since assuming the role, he had constantly been at odds with the five elders, finding the position more trouble than it was worth, preferring the freedom of being an elder himself.
Tang Xiao suspected his father's death was partly due to the stress and frequent conflicts with the elders, coupled with the shock from Hao's incident. Otherwise, how could a titled Douluo be so easily angered to death?
As the sect expanded, so did the responsibilities and considerations.
Ah, how he longed for the days of traveling with Hao and Ah Yin. How wonderful it would be to return to those times.
"The position of Haotian Sect leader should remain with Xiao'er. I've already stepped down and have no reason to resume the role, especially since I'm not in peak condition..." Tang Chen explained.
At Tang Chen's indication, Tang Hao briefly described his grandfather's experience in the Slaughter City, accepting the inheritance of the Asura God and being lost in the divine trial.
"Grandfather is currently undergoing the Asura God's trial, but his body has been corrupted by the Bloodthirsty Nine-Headed Bat King and needs healing first."
"If there were some extraordinary medicinal herbs, it would greatly aid his recovery."
The five elders immediately pledged to have the sect members search the nearby undeveloped forests for herbs that could restore Tang Chen's body.
"Now, we must gather our strength," Tang Chen continued. If he were at his peak, the situation would be different, but given the current strength of the Spirit Hall, led by Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong, they had to be cautious. Although the two were not allies, the Haotian Sect's re-emergence would certainly attract the Spirit Hall's attention.
Especially since his great-grandson's actions had already drawn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan closer to the Spirit Hall. Those two sects had no direct conflicts with the Spirit Hall and stood to gain from an alliance. They might even fully ally with the Spirit Hall if circumstances required it.
But the Haotian Sect was different; their pride could not be compromised! Moreover, Qian Daoliu, an old friend and nemesis of Tang Chen, would never allow his sect to serve under the Spirit Hall.
That would imply Tang Chen was inferior to Qian Daoliu!
Absolutely not!
"Everything will wait until my injuries heal and I inherit the position of Asura God," Tang Chen said gravely. "The Killing God Domain is given to one of the candidates for the Asura God's position. It depends on which candidate can continuously evolve the Killing God Domain into the Asura Domain. Although the Slaughter City still exists, the fallen within it have been wiped out by Hao'er and me. There is no way to reopen the Hell Road to obtain the Killing God Domain anymore."
"However, I have completed the Eight Trials of Asura. The Asura Domain can create an illusionary realm for the trial-takers. I can channel a part of the Asura Domain's aura and attach it to their martial spirits. By nurturing it with killing intent, there is a chance to develop the Killing God Domain."
After saying this, Tang Chen clenched his right hand, and a Haotian Hammer emitting endless killing intent appeared, glowing crimson like hot iron.
Then, the Haotian Hammer began to melt and reshape itself into a blood-red longsword over two meters long, covered in dark gold patterns with strange energy flowing through it. Everyone present felt a profound sense of oppression, their Haotian Hammers trembling in fear.
"This is the divine weapon I wield, and it is now my martial spirit: the Asura Sword," Tang Chen explained. "The eighth trial of the Asura God involves confronting one's inner self and refining one's martial spirit into the form of a divine weapon."
"However, this Asura Sword is currently only a half-divine weapon. To fully refine it, there are two methods—"
"First, I must complete the Nine Trials of Asura and achieve the position of Asura God, which will naturally transform this sword into a true divine weapon."
"Second... well, never mind, it's not worth mentioning."
The second method involves Tang Chen sacrificing his own life force and cultivation to prematurely nurture and refine the Asura Sword into a divine weapon.
But this is a last resort.
Unless absolutely necessary, Tang Chen would never do that.
However, if it came to the worst-case scenario, sacrificing himself to refine the divine weapon and leave it for the Haotian Sect might transform the sect into a sanctuary for divine inheritance, similar to Sea God Island...
---
"Thank you for your assistance, Holy Son!"
Outside Phoenix City, Thanos and Feng xi bid farewell to Tang San and his companions, expressing their gratitude.
"It was nothing. We were just joining in on the fun."
Tang San understood that before they went to Shura Town No. 9, Thanos and Fengxi must have already investigated and secretly sealed off the area. Even the paths to the Slaughter City were blocked. Otherwise, Mu Tian and his followers wouldn't have hidden in that chapel, nor would they have dared to confront them directly.
Of course, it might also be because spirit masters who become fallen are impulsive, easily angered, extremely arrogant, and mad. This could explain why they chose to confront us head-on...
"Holy Son, please don't say that. Without your help, there would have been significant casualties."
Thanos had experienced the terror of the fallen and the power of the Holy Spirit Sect's evil spirit masters firsthand. The last time they clashed with the Holy Spirit Sect, it resulted in heavy losses on both sides.
This time, without the assistance of the Holy Son and his companions, even if they had won, there would have been substantial casualties. Now, thanks to their help, there were hardly any severe injuries.
Thanos and Feng xi escorted Tang San and his group for nearly a hundred miles before returning.
After traveling a hundred miles, Tang San and his companions headed to Shura Town No. 9, arriving at the chapel once occupied by the Holy Spirit Sect.
Inside, the walls were covered in blood-red, eerie patterns. At the front stood a statue of a nine-headed blood bat, made from human bones.
Tang San called out Wu Tong, who burned the statue to ashes, which were then dispersed by Wu Tong.
In the place of the statue, a blood-red rune was revealed.
Boom!
Tang San punched the rune, creating a large hole that exposed a tunnel about seven or eight meters wide and twenty meters deep.
The tunnel was filled with various debris: chairs, stones, trees, and corpses of animals and humans.
Undoubtedly, this was the path to the Slaughter City, blocked by someone using various objects.
"It smells awful!" Xiao Wu pinched her nose, frowning and waving her hand in front of her face. "Did Thanos and his men block the entrance to the Slaughter City this way?"
"This is the simplest method. The stench also deters most spirit masters from exploring further. Even evil spirit masters have the same sense of smell as normal people." Tang San instructed Wu Lin to join Wu Tong. Together, they used their ice and fire powers to burn and destroy the debris. Within thirty minutes, a deep passage was revealed.
Tang San was the first to jump in, followed closely by Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, and Blue Silver.
What had happened in the Slaughter City?
Why did Mu Tian seem parasitized by the Bloodthirsty Nine-Headed Bat King?
What had become of the King of Slaughter?
Tang San wanted to understand all of this to prepare for the future.
After descending over a hundred meters, Tang San landed, catching Xiao Wu and Guang Ling. Blue Silver, with her hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone, could fly.
"Now that he has a wife, he ignores his mother!" Blue Silver grumbled inwardly. Then she shivered as a chill ran through her, saying, "It's a bit cold here."
The chill penetrated deeply, instilling a sense of dread in their hearts.
Xiao Wu and Guang Ling also shivered, but they clung tightly to Tang San's arms. Sensing his refreshing life force, they began to feel better.
"Enough with the public displays of affection!" Blue Silver couldn't help but complain. For the past few days, the three of them had been inseparable, making her envious and causing her to roll her eyes.
Why should she be stuck with carrots?
After all, Xiao Wu was the real rabbit here!
"Ahem, let's stay focused," Tang San said, clearing his throat awkwardly and turning to the matter at hand. "This eerie chill is the wailing of souls. The Slaughter City has become a gathering place for the undead."
This information had been provided by Electrolux.
In his perception, the Slaughter City was silent except for the anguished cries of trapped souls. These souls, unable to transform into true undead, were numerous and confined, gradually starting to influence reality...
(End of this chapter)